Donald W. Heller Sr.

Wednesday

Feb 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Donald W. Heller Sr., 88, of Cherry Valley, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. He was the husband of Ruth (Blakeslee) Heller, with whom he celebrated 66 years of marriage on Nov. 15, 2012.

Born on Dec. 24, 1924, in East Stroudsburg, he was a son of the late Floyd and Florence (Stalmer) Heller and was a lifetime resident of Monroe County. He was a 1944 graduate of Stroudsburg High School and then served in the U.S. Merchant Marines.

He retired from the U.S. Postal Service, having worked at the Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg post offices.

Don was a member of Cherry Valley United Methodist Church and Barger Lodge 325 F&AM.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by six grandchildren: John Transue and his wife, Marjetka, and Terry Cornell and her husband, Chad, all of Pennsylvania; Tammy Sue Heller of Arizona; Donald W. Heller III of Pennsylvania; Lena Adams and her husband, Charles, of California; and Dee Patel of Pennsylvania; 10 great-grandchildren: Stephanie Cwalinski, Sophia Horner, Nicholas Cornell, Alexis Cornell, Raven Decker, Shannon Adams, Zachary Adams, Scott Heykoop, Casandra Patel and Vivian Patel; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Donald W. Heller Jr. in 2009; two brothers, Floyd Heller and Robert Heller; and a sister, Anna Cramer.

There will be a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at Cherry Valley United Methodist Church, 1238 Kemmertown Road, Stroudsburg (village of Cherry Valley). The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Paul Crikelair officiating. Private cremation will take place following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial remembrances be made to Cherry Valley United Methodist Church, 1238 Kemmertown Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.